FRUIT MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 14

FRUIT MARKETS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Fair supplies of vegetables have been available during the week, and prices generally have been good. Spring cauliflowers have been in keen demand, and have realised exceedingly good prices. Old potatoes are oft the market. The supplies of local onionE have been practically exhausted. Peas were forward in large quantities, and prices have been low. Supplies of asparagus have fallen off considerably, and in consequence there has been a hardening in prices. Local supplies of new potatoes are increasing, and prices are a little lower. Local apples are still coming from tho cool stores, but tho condition of most lines is mixed. Prices are unchanged. Much larger quantities of strawberries and cherries are forward, and prices have dropped a little. Good supplies of tomatoes have been coming in and prices remain firm. Overseas oran-es are in good supply, and prices are reasonable. Thero has been only a small demand for lemons, which realise fair prices. Pineapples and passion fruit are scarce and dear. Shipments are arriving by the Maui Pomare, and a large quantity of Samoan bananas is due on Monday. On the same day a small shipment of Canadian apples is also due. The overage prices received at auction for the week ended December sth are: Apples, Nelson, per case up to 10s; apples, Stnrmers, per case up to 10s; bananas, Fiji', per case 24s Cd; cherries, dessert, per lb «Jd to Is OJd; cherries, No. 2, per lb 4d to 7d; coconuts, per sack 20s; pooseberries, j per lb 2d to 3d; lemons, Auckland, per case ! 12» Cd; lemons, San Francisco, per case 47s Cd; oranges, Sydney, per case up to 15s; pineapples, Sydney, per case up to 265; strawberries, per punnet, lOd to Is ljd; tomatoes, dessert, per lb up to Is 4d; tomatoes, No. 2, 1 per lb 8d to Is; walnuts, per lb 61d to | 7d; asparagus, per doz. bundles up to 9s; I beet, per doz. bundles up to 2s 3d; cabbages. I per doz up to 4s fid: cauliflowers, per doz ] up to 10s 9d: carrots, per doz. up to 2s 3d: ' cucumbers, hothouse, per lb 6d to Rid; green j pens, per peck la 9d to 2.« 4d: lettuce, per doz. up to 3s sd: new potatoes, per lb 2d to j 3*d; potatoes, per sugar-ban 2s; parsnins, per doz. 2s 4d; radishes, per doz. 4d to 8d; rhubarb, per doz. Is to 3s; spring on'ons, per doz. 4d to Is 2d; turnips, per doz. Is 9d; splnacb, per doz. 2s 6d; eggs, first grade up to Is 2d: eggs, second grade Is to Is Id; duck eggs up to Is 2d. DUNEDIN. [THE PEESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, December 5. A shipm-ent of Samoan bananas arrived by the Maui Pomare during the week. The vessel came direct to Dunedin from Bamoa t and there were approximately 3000 cases for the local market out of a total shipment of 7400 cases for the Dominion. The condition of the bananas was easily the best so far landed from Samoa In Dunedin. Prices obtained appear satisfactory to all parties. The local price to retailers was fixed at 23s per case, nothing being sold above this figure. A shipment of Samoan bananas which arrived in Dunedin about this time last year realised 22s per case, and was only half the size o£ that which has just come forward. The percentage of bad-condi-tioned bananas In the present shipment was very small. It is possible that a shipment of Fijians will reach the market a little before Christmas. This depends, however, on whether there will bo a connecting steamer with Auckland. Canadian apples and Californian grapes are expected some time next week. The largo supply of Valen* c ia oranges which came to hand ex the Ma* heno from Melbourne, is now practically eo.d out- of tho marts. A further shipment is expected bv the Maheno before Christmas, but the quantity is not yet known. Cherries are in little more plentiful supply. Fairly good prices are being obtained for sound fruit, but poor quality is hard to place. The ptrawbcrv market has been erratic dur« ing the week'this being caused by the demand depending to a certain extent on weather conditions. Supplies are likely to be more plentiful during the_ next week or two, as warmer weather is being experienced in Central Otago.

SOUTHLAND. (STIXXAX. TO THE PEXSS.) > XNVERCARGXIiL, December 5. All classes of fruit have been coming to hand in increased quantities, and the demand has been consistently good. The most noticeable feature of the week's transactions has been the appreciable drop in tomato values. A consignment of Samoan bananas is due tomorrow, and according to reports the shipment is in excellent condition. Supplies of strawberries and cherries have increased in quantity, and as the size and condition of the fruit was excellent, a good demand existed. Apples, both Canadian and New j Zealandgrown, are available, and commanding satisfactory values. The vegetable market continues good, but there has been a falling off in supplies of cabbages and cauliflowers. Lettuce and spring onions are in good supply, and early turnips and radishes are coming to hand more freely. New potatoes have advanced in the North Island owing to the bad weather, and as a consequence values have risen locally. Current prices are approximately as follows:—Canadian apples 22s 6d to 245, local 3s Gd to 9s 6d, according to quality, Valencia oranges 19s to 245, according to counts; lemons 22s 6d to 26s per case, cherries Is Id to Is 8d per lb, strawberries Is Id to Is 4d per punnet, tomatoes Is 6d to 2s 2d, seconds Is to Is 4d per lb, lettuce 2s to 4s 6d per doz., spring onions Is to Is 6d. per doz. bundles, cabbages 4s to ss, cauliflowers 7s 6d to 10s per dozen, new potatoes 2d to 2§d, green peas 5d per lb.

FROZEN MEAT. SMITHFIELD QUOTATIONS. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London office, dated December 4th:— New Zealand Frozen Lamb—Market weak. Demand poor owing to cold weather. Quotations : d. d. 28-361b, Canterbury 83 North Island 36-421b, Canterbury 81 North Island 2nd quality, Canterbury 73 North Island 42»501b, Canterbury 7f North Island —- No Stocks of North Island. New Zealand Frozen Mutton—Market weaker. Demand limited. Quotations: — d. d. 48-561b, Canterbury 5J North Island 4| 56-641b, Canterbury 5 North Island 4| 64-721b, Canterbury 5 North Island 4| 48-641b, Canterbury 8J North Island 3J New Zealand Beef—Market unchanged* Demand fair. Quotations: — d. d. N.Z. prime ox hinds 51 Fore« 4 Argentine chilled hinds 53 Fores 4i New Zealand Pork—Market weaker. Demand better owing to cold weather. Quotations d. English porkers, 80-1001b .. . • 9 New Zealand porkers, 80-100!b .. 8 New Zealand porkers, 100-1201b . • 65 Australian Lamb—Market weak. Demand moderate. Quotations: — d. d. 28-361b, g.a.q. 81 36 421b g.a.q. 75 28-361b, f.a.q. t 63 third quality Gi Australian Mutton——Market weaker. Demand limited. Quotations:— 40-601b, g.a.q. 4| 80-551b f.a.q. 85 Ewes 3g FEILDING STOCK SALE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGSAM.) I FEILDING, December 5. i The market was dull at the stock sale today, and prices were down all round. There were small yardings except of store cattle. Fat lambs sold at 16s 6d, two-tooth black faces 16s 6d, white faces very good 19s, good 17s to 19s t good hoggets 18s 2d, others 15s, woolly fat ewes 13s 6d, shorn, best offering Ms 3d, good 10s to 10s 6d, medium 9s to 9s 9d, fat wethers 14s 3d to 15s. Stores—Wwes with over 100 per cent. ' lambs 23jS, good 20s to 21s 3d. four-tooth j wethers 14s, two-tooth wethers lis 2d to : 12s Bd, two-tooth ewes, best 13s 6d to 14s j sd, poor 8s to 10s. I Dairy cattle sold at below late rates, but j quality was not there. I Fat cattle made up to 25s per 1001b. Many lines werft passed, as vendors would not meet the market. # ] Store Cattle—Jersey cows £2 10s, yearling j ■Tersey heifers £4 10s and £4 15s, Hereford | sfeers three-vear £5 10s, Polled Angus steers £4 to £5 10s. Polled Angus bullocks £7 ls» i Holstein bullocks £6 lie. I